Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-26
Lives Of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behind us
EOOt-Drints in the sands of time -

George Washington and Abraham Lin
coin sat at one time as you sit to-day a,
your little desks, only they sat on rough
benches, and their school house was made
of logs. You all know of the curiosity We
all have to see President of the United
States. What a satisfaction it is to shake
hands with one. and how wild the people
cheer and follow them, and how excited
everybody gets, and yet you may perhaps
be playing with coming President of the
United States any day. He may be sitting
at this moment on one of these desks. i
is certainly true that you have among you
coming Senators, Congressman, Governor,
and Generals. This great nation of the
United States must some day be managed
by you, and every century must have its
Washingtons and Liucolns. So let these
men remind you that you can make youl
lives sublime, and departing, leave behind
you footprints in the sands of time
Study their characters and follow their ex.
aDples. Love your country as they did
and defend their names as they defended
your country. Remember you will be
called upon TO guard this nation as they
did, and to do it properly. The names Of
Washington and Lincoln must be your
guide. | thank you for your attention"
ADDRESS BY THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT
The last exercise but one was an addres:
by the Hon. Ira G. Hoitt, State Superin-
tendent of Public Schools, in which he
showed his thorough acquaintance with
boys and girls, and his earnest, heartfelt
sympathy with the great cause of popular
education, in which the greater part OF hi.
life has been spent. Mr.. Hoitt, as did also
Mr.. Brusie, held the attention of the boys
and girls to the end of his remarks, and re.
ceived their hearty approval through
rounds Of applause. Weappend synopsis
of his address:
On being introduced he commenced his
address by asking the children 10 VIVA.
branch of their work the exercises of To- dav
belong. The answer was properly given
and he told them if they would learn 10
love and appreciate history, they must
come to feel that the people whose sayings
and doiugs make up the story of the past
were men and women Just like those who
walk our streets every day. They lived by
eating. drinking and sleeping very mach
after the manner in which we live. Said
be: The reasons why we should make
Washington the central figure in orr cele-
brations at this time were many; but the
NEST prominent one was the fact that to
him more than any other was due the
honor and the glory of having freed this
country, which We all delight to call the
home of the brave and the land of the
Free" from British rule and tyranny. |
need not refer to the story of the Ratchet.
nor TO the lifelong character for truthful
ness. We all rem mber the story of bis
bravery and skill and his almost
miraculous escape at Braddock's defeat,
af.er which he said: :" / received four
bullets in my coat and had four horses sbo:
under me- and yet | escaped unhurt."
" Perhaps there was no incident in his life
which was more full of future consequence
than when, under the old elm wash
ington's ELM in Cambridge, Mass, he
drew his sword amid the shouts of thou
sands and assumed command of what
afterwards became the American army
Washington was respected and honored by
every one because he first respected him
self. and thereby formed a character which
commanded the respect and admiration of
others Washington was noted for his po-
iiteness, as we'll as for his bravery On one
occasion. when entering the gate of his
plantation with a companion, he raised his
hat to his negro servant and when asked
WHY he thus recognized his slave, he re-
piled. Because | cannot afford TO allow
my negro servant 10 be more polite than j
ann | earnestly ask You to read some
well-written Life OF Washington and
strive to initiate his,.example. You cannot
each become Washington or Lincoln,
but YOU can become honorable, respected
citizens, and, if you would be gentlemen and
ladies when you become men and women,
you must commence by being gentlemanly
boys and ladylike girls. Read also the
ives Of some of the men who lived in the
Tine of Washington. such as Patrick Henry,
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Learn
to love the characters and the patriotic
Split of the great men who have done so
much to give you country and Govern
ment that is better than any other on the
face of the globe. l would have you be-
come true American citizens and be ready
and willing to raise your hands against any
man who dares to raise his hands against
our Government. congratulate the Prin-
c;pal and teachers and the pupils of this
school upon your exercises this afternoon.
and from your good appearance t'-iay
think | am safe in congratulating the peo-
pie of this city upon the good condition OF
the Sacramento Grammar School.